Integrated monitoring capacity of a power bank battery and devices charged therewith

ABSTRACT

A portable power bank including a rechargeable battery and/or a remote server may detect loss of capacity in the power bank battery. The power bank and/or remote server determines a nominal capacity of the power bank, and an actual capacity of the power bank, the actual capacity being less than the nominal capacity. The power bank and/or remote server compares the actual capacity to the nominal capacity to determine a health value of the power bank battery. When the power bank battery health value is at or below a threshold value, the power bank and/or remote server transmits an indication of the health value.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure generally relates to apparatus and methods to detect aloss of capacity of a power bank battery and, more particularly, tocommunicate the loss of capacity of the power bank battery to a remoteserver accessible by a user of the power bank.

BACKGROUND

A power bank is a portable electronic device, chiefly including arechargeable battery that is electrically connectable to one or morerechargeable devices, such as mobile computing devices. The power bankuses the electrical connection to supply electric charge to respectivebatteries of the rechargeable device(s). A user of a smartphone, forexample, may carry a power bank so that, when the battery charge levelof the smartphone is low, the user can connect the smartphone to thepower bank (e.g., by USB or wireless charging means). Upon the powerbank partially or fully recharging the smartphone battery, the user cancontinue to use the smartphone with less concern for depleting theirsmartphone battery.

Capacity of a power bank battery is typically expressed either in unitsof electric charge (e.g., milliampere-hours (mAh)) or units of energy(e.g., watt-hours (Wh)). Manufacturers of power banks typicallyadvertise power banks by stating the initial capacity of the power bank,that is, how much charge or energy the power bank battery can hold atfull charge (i.e., at full capacity of charge or energy), at the timethe power bank is manufactured. This stated initial capacity of thepower bank battery (“nominal capacity”) is often large enough for thefully charged power bank to be able to provide multiple rechargings torechargeable devices before the power bank battery is fully depleted. Asan example, a fully charged power bank having a 10000 mAh batterycapacity may provide multiple full or partial recharges to a smartphonehaving a battery capacity of ˜3000 mAh, before the power bank isdepleted and must be recharged.

However, it is understood that a power bank battery loses at least someof its capacity over time. Usually, these capacity losses are notreversible. As a result of capacity losses, the actual capacity of theexample power bank battery may be substantially below the statedcapacity of 10000 mAh (e.g., lower than 9000 mAh, 8000 mAh, 7000 mAh,etc.). Thus, the nominal capacity of the power bank battery may not berepresentative of the actual capacity of the power bank battery at agiven time, particularly when the power bank has been owned or used forlong periods of time. Over sufficient time, the capacity of the powerbank battery may be reduced so significantly that the power bank cannotprovide a full charging to a user's rechargeable device (e.g., the powerbank's actual capacity has fallen to 2500 mAh, and is being used tocharge a 3000 mAh smartphone battery). A power bank user may befrustrated when their power bank runs out of battery charge afterproviding substantially less charge to the rechargeable device batterythan the user expects.

SUMMARY

One embodiment includes a portable power bank device (“power bank”). Thepower bank includes a rechargeable battery for supplying electric chargeto a rechargeable device external to the power bank (e.g., asmartphone). The power bank is generally configured to supply electriccharge to a rechargeable device external to the power bank via anelectrical connection between the power bank battery and a battery ofthe rechargeable device. The power bank battery has a nominal capacity.The power bank further includes one or more transceivers for exchangingcommunication signals (e.g., radio frequency communication signals) witha remote server. The power bank still further includes one or moreprocessors and a non-transitory memory storing computer executableinstructions. The instructions, when executed via the one or moreprocessors, cause the power bank to (1) determine the nominal capacityof the power bank battery, (2) measure a present capacity of the powerbank battery, (3) compare the present capacity of the power bank batteryto the nominal capacity of the power bank battery to determine a healthvalue of the power bank battery, and (4) transmit to the remote server,via the one or more transceivers, an indication of the health value ofthe power bank battery when the health value is less than or equal to athreshold value.

Another embodiment includes a method performed via a power bank. Themethod includes determining, by a processor of the power bank, a nominalcapacity of a rechargeable battery of the power bank. The power bank isgenerally configured to supply electric charge to a rechargeable deviceexternal to the power bank via an electrical connection between thepower bank battery and a battery of the rechargeable device. The methodfurther includes obtaining, by the processor, a measurement of a presentcapacity of the battery. The method still further includes comparing thepresent capacity to the nominal capacity to determine a health value ofthe power bank battery. Additionally, the method includes transmitting,via a communication module of the power bank, to a remote server, anindication of the health value when the health value is less than orequal to a threshold value.

Yet another embodiment includes a system (e.g., a remote server). Thesystem includes one or more transceivers configured to exchangecommunication signals (e.g., radio frequency communication signals) witha power bank device and one or more personal electronic devices. Thepower bank device includes a battery for supplying electric charge to abattery of a rechargeable device external to the power bank device. Thesystem further includes one or more processors and a non-transitorymemory storing computer-executable instructions. The instructions, whenexecuted, cause the system to (1) obtain the nominal capacity of thepower bank battery, (2) receive from the power bank device, via the oneor more transceivers, a present capacity measurement of the power bankbattery, (3) compare the present capacity of the power bank battery tothe nominal capacity of the power bank battery to determine a healthvalue of the power bank battery, and (4) transmit to the one or morepersonal electronic devices, via the one or more transceivers, anindication of the health value of the power bank battery when the healthvalue is less than or equal to a threshold value.

In accordance with the teachings of the disclosure, any one or more ofthe foregoing aspects of an apparatus or a method may further includeany one or more of the following optional forms.

In one optional form, where the power bank's nominal capacity is ratedin units of electric charge (e.g., milliampere-hours), measuring thepresent capacity includes monitoring an inflowing electric current tothe power bank battery (e.g., measuring the inflowing electric currentrepeatedly over a time interval when the power bank is being charged).In this optional form, an input charge capacity of the power bankbattery is calculated based upon the monitored inflowing electriccurrent, and the present capacity is determined based upon thecalculated input charge capacity. Alternatively, in another optionalform, where the power bank's nominal capacity is rated in units ofenergy (e.g., Wh), measuring the present capacity includes monitoringpower input to the power bank battery (e.g., repeatedly measuring powerinput to the power bank battery over the time interval, based uponmeasurements of inflowing current to the power bank battery and voltageof the power bank battery). In this optional form, an input energycapacity of the power bank battery is calculated based upon themonitored power input, and the present capacity is determined based uponthe input energy capacity.

In another optional form, where the power bank's nominal capacity israted in units of electric charge, measuring the present capacityincludes monitoring an outflowing electric current from the power bankbattery during a supply of electric charge from the power bank batteryto the rechargeable device (e.g., by measuring the outflowing electriccurrent repeatedly over a time interval corresponding to the supply ofelectric charge). In this optional form, an output charge capacity ofthe power bank battery is calculated based upon the monitored outflowingelectric current, and the present capacity is determined based upon thecalculated output charge capacity. Alternatively, in still anotheroptional form, where the power bank's nominal capacity is rated in unitsof energy, measuring the present capacity includes monitoring poweroutput from the power bank battery during a supply of electric chargefrom the power bank battery to the rechargeable device (e.g., bymeasuring the power output repeatedly over the time intervalcorresponding to the supply of electric charge, based upon measurementsof voltage of the power bank battery and outflowing current from thepower bank battery over the time interval).

In still another optional form, the power bank transmits the indicationof the health value to the remote server via a wireless connectionbetween the one or more transceivers and the remote server. In otheroptional forms, the power bank transmits the indication of the healthvalue to the rechargeable device which causes the rechargeable device torelay the health value to the remote server.

In yet another optional form, the electrical connection between thepower bank and the mobile computing device includes a wired electricalconnection between the power bank and the mobile computing device.

In still another optional form, the electrical connection between thepower bank and the mobile computing device includes a wirelesselectrical connection between the power bank and the mobile computingdevice. In yet another optional form, the threshold value is a valuereceived from a personal electronic device.

In another optional form, to obtain the nominal capacity of the powerbank batter, the system is configured to (1) receive from the power bankdevice, via the one or more transceivers, an indication of a power bankidentifier, and (2) query, using the power bank identifier, a databaseto obtain the nominal capacity of the power bank battery. Alternatively,the system is configured to receive from the power bank device, via theone or more transceivers, the nominal capacity of the power bankbattery.

In a further optional form, the system includes a user profile databaseconfigured to store a user profile associated with the power bankdevice. In an optional form, the user profile is configured to store thepresent capacity measurement in the user profile. In yet anotheroptional form, the system is configured to (1) receive from a personalelectronic device, via the one or more transceivers, a request to viewdata associated with the power bank device, (2) query the user profileto obtain the stored present capacity measurement, and (3) transmit tothe personal electronic device, via the one or more transceivers, thepresent capacity measurement.

In still another optional form, the user profile includes an indicationof a personal electronic device selection at which a user indicatedalerts associated with the power bank device should be received. In thisoptional form, to transmit the indication of the health value, thesystem is configured to query the user profile to determine the personalelectronic device selection and transmit to a personal electronic devicethat corresponds to the personal electronic device selection, via theone or more transceivers, the indication of the health value.

In yet another optional form, the memory of the system is configured tostore one or more lookup tables associating temperature values withrespective temperature correction factors. In this form, to compare thepresent capacity of the power bank battery to the nominal capacity ofthe power bank battery, the system (1) obtains, from the power bankdevice, an indication of a temperature value (e.g., a temperature valuesensed by the power bank device and/or the rechargeable device), (2)based on the temperature value, obtains, from the one or more lookuptables, the respective temperature correction factor, (3) generates anadjusted present capacity by applying the temperature correction factorto the present capacity of the power bank battery, and (4) compares theadjusted present capacity to the nominal capacity of the power bankbattery.

Embodiments may further include non-transitory computer readable mediacomprising computer-executable instructions that cause a processor toperform a method via apparatus described herein.

Advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following description of the preferred embodiments which have beenshown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, thepresent embodiments may be capable of other and different embodiments,and their details are capable of modification in various respects.Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded asillustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The Figures described below depict various aspects of the system andmethods disclosed herein. Each figure depicts a particular aspect of thedisclosed system and methods, and each of the figures is intended toaccord with a possible aspect thereof. Further, wherever possible, thefollowing description refers to the reference numerals included in thefollowing figures, in which features depicted in multiple figures aredesignated with consistent reference numerals.

There are shown in the Figures arrangements which are presentlydiscussed, it being understood, however, that the present embodimentsare not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown,wherein:

FIG. 1A illustrates an example computing environment including a powerbank and a mobile computing device, in accordance with one aspect of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 1B illustrates an example computing environment including a powerbank, a rechargeable device, personal electronic device(s), and a remoteserver, in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates example components of the power bank and therechargeable device of FIG. 1 , in accordance with one aspect of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example chart associated with electric currentmeasured at a power bank, in accordance with one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example chart associated with voltage measured ata power bank, in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example flow diagram, in accordance with oneaspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an example mobile computing device notification, inaccordance with one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example method associated with a power bank, inaccordance with one aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates another example method associated with a power bank,in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure.

The Figures depict preferred embodiments for purposes of illustrationonly. Alternative embodiments of the systems and methods illustratedherein may be employed without departing from the principles of theinvention described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the following text sets forth a detailed description ofnumerous different embodiments, it should be understood that the legalscope of the description is defined by the words of the claims set forthat the end of this patent and equivalents. The detailed description isto be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possibleembodiment since describing every possible embodiment would beimpractical. Numerous alternative embodiments may be implemented, usingeither current technology or technology developed after the filing dateof this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a portable power bankdevice (“power bank”) and a rechargeable device, such as a mobilecomputing device (e.g., a smartphone) or rechargeable lithium oralkaline consumer batteries. Each of the power bank and the rechargeabledevice include a respective internal battery (“power bank battery” and“rechargeable device battery,” respectively). The power bank isconfigured to use its battery to supply electric charge to therechargeable device battery, by way of an electrical connection betweenthe power bank and the mobile computing device. The electricalconnection may include, for example, a USB-C connection, micro USBconnection, Lightning charging connection, a Qi-standard wirelessconnection, an AirFuel wireless connection, etc., and/or another wiredor wireless structure for electrically connecting the rechargeabledevice to the power bank.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include, via the power bank,monitoring a state of health of the power bank battery, the state ofhealth being based upon a comparison of the actual capacity of the powerbank battery to a nominal capacity of the power bank battery. When astate of health of the power bank battery falls below a threshold value(e.g., 60%), the power bank battery transmits an indication of thehealth value to a remote server associated with the power bank (e.g.,via radio frequency (RF) communications). The remote server may beconfigured to store a plurality of user data respectively associatedwith a plurality of user accounts of respective power bank users.Accordingly, the remote server may associate a particular power bankwith a particular user account maintained thereat. In some embodiments,the user accounts also include indications of rechargeable devicesassociated with the user. Accordingly, the user account may associateboth the power bank and one or more rechargeable devices with oneanother.

Additionally, the rechargeable device may be associated with the powerbank, for example, by way of being communicatively connection with thepower bank (e.g., having established RF communications), and/or (2)being manually assigned to receive indications of state of health of thepower bank (e.g., manually configured by a user of the rechargeabledevice). In these examples, the rechargeable device (and/or theapplication executing thereon) may be configured to update a useraccount associated with the power bank to include an indication of therechargeable device when the power bank is used to recharge therechargeable device. A threshold state of health value may be, forexample, a value set by a manufacturer of the power bank, or a value setby a user of the power bank via the application executing on therechargeable device. In some other embodiments, the remote serverprovides an interface (e.g., a web portal) via which users may utilizepersonal electronic devices (e.g., rechargeable devices andnon-rechargeable devices such as desktop computers) to set the thresholdstate of health value for a power bank device and/or any associationsbetween the power bank device and rechargeable devices. In any case, theindication transmitted by the power bank to the remote server may causethe rechargeable device (or other personal electronic devices) todisplay an indication of the state of health of the power bank battery(e.g., via a push notification from the remote server, and/or an imagedisplayed on a screen of a personal electronic device conveying thestate of health information of the power bank).

Power bank users typically do not know when and how capacity lossesoccur in the power bank battery. Power bank capacity may decrease, forexample, each time the battery is “cycled,” e.g., each time the batteryis depleted and recharged by a particular amount (5% of the battery'scapacity, 15%, 55%, 100%, etc.). The exact loss of capacity due tocycling may vary, depending on the type of battery and how much of thebattery is cycled. A number of additional factors may further contributeto capacity loss over time, even when the battery is not cycled.Capacity loss may increase, for example, when the battery is stored inextreme temperatures (e.g., significantly above or below 25 degreesCelsius), or depending on the charge level of the battery when thebattery is stored for extended lengths of time. Furthermore, becausecapacity loss may occur even when the power bank is not used, somecapacity loss may very well have already occurred by the time a userfirst acquires the power bank from a manufacturer or retailer (e.g., ifsignificant time has elapsed from manufacturing until purchase). Becausemost consumer electronic devices measure present charge levels incomparison to actual capacity of the device battery, a fully chargedpower bank might indicate a charge level of “100%” even when the actualamount of charge or energy held by the power bank battery issignificantly less than the nominal capacity of the power bank battery.Accordingly, a user of a power bank generally does not know, at anygiven time, the actual capacity of the power bank battery relative tothe nominal capacity of the power bank battery. Consequently, a user mayexpect a power bank to deliver more charge or energy, based on prioractual experience, than the power bank is capable of delivering becauseof capacity loss. By advantageously transmitting an indication of thestate of health of the power bank battery to the user, the power bankdisclosed herein advantageously empowers the consumer to replace thepower bank rather than continue to use a power bank having substantiallyreduced capacity (e.g., less than 70% of nominal capacity) andpotentially incapable of delivering charge according to the user'sestablished expectations.

Use of the methods and power banks described herein may improve theusefulness of the power bank relative to conventional power banks, atleast because receiving an indication of the power bank's state ofhealth allows the user to consider the state of health information andavoid unintentionally depleting the power bank battery earlier thanexpected. Furthermore, the methods and power banks described hereinimprove the user experience with the power bank, at least becausereliable knowledge of the power bank state of health helps the useravoid being unexpectedly without a backup charge source for arechargeable device.

Before further description, definitions of certain terms are provided,these terms being used throughout this detailed description.

As used herein, the term “power bank” refers to a portable electronicdevice usable for supplying electric charge to one or more rechargeabledevices (e.g., mobile computing devices, such as a smartphone, a tablet,and/or a portable media player, devices powered by consumer rechargeablebatteries, such as rechargeable AAA batteries, AA batteries, Abatteries, and so on, or rechargeable industrial devices that includeintegrated rechargeable batteries, such as door locks, automatictoilets, paper towel dispensers, hand driers, and so on). Accordingly,the term “power bank” encompasses battery packs external to therechargeable device, including rechargeable battery packs and disposablebattery packs. It should be appreciated any usage of the term “mobilecomputing device” herein envisions the alternative implementation ofother types of “rechargeable devices.” The power bank chiefly comprisesa rechargeable battery (“power bank battery”), such as a rechargeablelithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery. More particularly, the powerbank battery includes one or more cells (e.g., electrochemical cells),which may be arranged in series, in parallel, or in an alternativeaspect, include cells arranged in series and in parallel. The power bankmay charge the mobile computing device (i.e., supply electric charge tothe mobile computing device battery) via wired means for electricallyconnecting the power bank to the mobile computing device (e.g., USB orLightning cable connection) and/or via wireless means for the same(e.g., Qi-standard wireless charging means, AirFuel-standard wirelesscharging means). Means for electrically connecting the power bank to therechargeable device are collectively referred to herein as an“electrical connection” between the power bank battery and therechargeable device battery.

Capacity of a battery (e.g., of a rechargeable power bank battery)generally refers to a maximum electric charge or energy that can be heldby the battery. Measured capacity of a battery may be expressed in unitsof electric charge (e.g., ampere-seconds, coulombs (C),milliampere-hours (mAh), and/or other suitable units) or in units ofenergy (e.g., watt-hours (Wh), joules (J), and/or other suitable units).“Nominal capacity” refers to an initial stated capacity of the battery(e.g., as stated by a manufacturer or retailer and corresponding tooptimal capacity at the time of manufacture). “Actual capacity” refersto the battery's “real” or “true” capacity at a given time, and it willbe understood that actual capacity will typically become less thannominal capacity and thus vary especially over a period of time. Actualcapacity is typically measured in the same units as nominal capacity(e.g., when the battery's nominal capacity is rated in units of electriccharge, the actual capacity is measured in the same). Actual capacitymay be used in combination with a specific time to communicate thecharge or energy held by the battery at that specific time, and thus twoactual capacities determined at different times may be used tocommunicate the variance of charge or energy held by the battery over atime interval. “Present actual capacity” (or simply “present capacity”)refers to the actual capacity of the battery at a present (current)time. “State of health” of the battery, as used herein, is a comparisonof an actual capacity of the battery to a nominal capacity of thebattery (e.g., actual capacity divided by nominal capacity, expressed asa ratio or percentage). The term “life percentage” may also be used torefer to the state of health of the battery. Where techniques aredescribed herein in relation to batteries having capacities expressed inunits of electric charge, it should be understood that similartechniques may be applied in relation to batteries having capacitiesexpressed in units of energy, given appropriate modifications (whichwill be described herein).

“Fuel gauge,” also referred to herein as “charge level,” refers to themeasured/determined amount of charge or energy held by a battery (e.g.,rechargeable power bank battery, rechargeable smartphone battery, etc.)at a given time. Charge level may be expressed as a percentage, i.e.,the percentage representation of the amount of charge held by thebattery in comparison to a capacity of the battery. Rechargeable devicessuch as smartphones or other mobile computing devices typically displaytheir charge level in percentage form (e.g., 51%). It should be notedthat, typically, a charge level of a battery is relative to thebattery's present capacity, not the battery's nominal capacity. Forexample, if the present capacity of a given device battery is 8000 mAhcompared to a nominal capacity of 10000 mAh, and the device indicates apresent charge level of “100%,” this means that the battery holds acharge of 8000 mAh (not 10000 mAh).

A “charging” or “recharging” of a given device, as used herein, is asupplying of electric charge to a rechargeable battery of the device,thereby increasing the charge level of the device. A charging may, forexample, increase the device charge level from 0% to 100%, from 0% to40%, from 51% to 63%, from 55% to 100%, etc. The act of charging overtime is referred to herein as a “charging session.” Conversely, a“depletion” of a given device (e.g., of the power bank) is a spending ofelectric charge by the device which thereby decreases the charge levelof the device. Depletion of the device may, for example, reduce thedevice charge level from 100% to 0%, from 100% to 65%, from 80% to 20%,from 33% to 0%, etc.

“Power bank” may be used at points herein to more specifically refer tothe power bank battery and thus, given the appropriate context, theseterms may be considered interchangeable. For example, where the term“power bank” is described in relation to electricity, capacity,provision of charge, etc., the term should be understood as referringmore specifically to the battery of the power bank (e.g., “capacity ofthe power bank,” “receiving charge from the power bank,” “charge levelof the power bank,” etc., specifically referring to the battery of thepower bank). Similar terms may be used to describe a rechargeable deviceor a mobile computing device charged by the power bank (e.g., smartphonecharged by the power bank). For example, terms such as “charging amobile computing device” or “charge level of a mobile computing device”may refer more specifically to the battery of the mobile computingdevice.

A power bank according to this disclosure may include a microcontroller(MCU). At a very high level, computing functionalities of the power bankMCU are typically limited to the functionalities that relate to (1)provision of charge from the power bank to rechargeable devices (e.g.,allowing charge to be supplied, interrupting the supply of charge,etc.), (2) calculations pertaining to characteristics of electricitywhich may be used in furtherance of provision of charge (e.g.,measurements or calculations of power, energy, current, voltage,resistance, and capacity), and/or (3) communicating the calculations toother computing devices.

Although a power bank according to this disclosure may have some displaycapabilities (e.g., a blinking LED light or a power meter metric bar ordisplay graphic indicative of power bank battery's charge level), thepower bank according to this disclosure generally does not include asubstantial display. For example, size of a power bank display screenmay be limited such that the display screen does not have a viewingsurface area greater than 25 cm², and/or greater than 16 cm².Additionally or alternatively, functionality of the power bank displayscreen is typically limited to only a simple numerical display (e.g.,without the HD screen functionalities that are typically present insmartphones, tablets, notebook computers, etc.). As a result, theprimary power draw from the power bank battery according to thisdisclosure is the charging of the rechargeable device (and not theoperation of the limited power bank display itself, which requiressubstantially less power). Similarly, although a power bank as describedherein may include some communication capabilities (e.g., RFcommunications, such as via Bluetooth Low Energy), different wiredand/or wireless communication functionalities may be utilized dependingon the device with which the power bank is in communication. For examplecommunications with a rechargeable device may be implemented via lowpower and/or low computational communications protocols (e.g., BluetoothLow Energy or WiFi). That said, the power bank may implement morecomplex protocols (e.g., cellular communications such as long termevolution (LTE) or new radio (NR)) for communication with the remoteserver.

A power bank is typically limited in physical size, weight, and/ordimensions, such that the power bank can easily be carried by the userof a mobile computing device (e.g., in a pocket, purse, backpack, etc.).Often, the power bank has a physical size and weight comparable to thatof a smartphone. However, other physical forms of power banks arepossible. For example, some power banks are substantially larger in sizeand capacity, and thereby more effective for supplying more charge,e.g., capable of charging devices a greater number of times, capable ofsubstantially charging larger devices such as laptop computers (e.g.,providing sufficient charge to charge the laptop computer battery from10% to 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, or more).

Furthermore, as a result of functionalities of a power bank beinglimited to the functionalities described herein, the power bankgenerally has limited input/output (I/O) functionalities. For example,the power bank may not include a dedicated keyboard or touchpad.Additionally, although the power bank may include one or more ports(e.g., USB port, micro-USB port, etc., which may facilitate chargingand/or data communications), typically, any ports included in the powerbank are not adapted to receive a keyboard, mouse, peripheral touchpad,monitor or other peripheral I/O device.

Example Computing Environments

FIG. 1A illustrates an example computing environment 100 illustrating apower bank 140 according to this disclosure in which techniquesdescribed herein may be implemented. The environment 100 includes amobile computing device 120, which may be a smartphone, tablet, wearablecomputing device, laptop computer, and/or other suitable mobilecomputing device. Unless expressly disclosed otherwise, any descriptionof the mobile computing device 120 envisions the alternateimplementation of the description at a rechargeable device. Theenvironment 100 further includes a power bank 140, which is generallyconfigured to supply electric charge to one or more rechargeable devices(e.g., to the mobile computing device 120).

In addition to being electrically connected so that electric charge maybe supplied from the power bank 140 to the mobile computing device 120,the mobile computing device 120 and power bank 140 may becommunicatively connected via one or more communicative connections 144.The one or more communicative connections 144 may include a wirelessradio frequency (RF) connection (e.g., via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE),Zigbee, Universal Plug n Play (UPnP), WiFi low Power, 6LoWPAN, LoRa,and/or other suitable protocols). Additionally or alternatively, the oneor more communicative connections may be implemented by a wiredconnection between the power bank 140 and the mobile computing device120 (e.g., via wired USB or Lightning cable connection). In someembodiments, a single connection between the mobile computing device 120and power bank 140 (e.g., a USB data/charging wired connection) may bothelectrically and communicatively connect the power bank 140 to themobile computing device 120 and thereby facilitate a combination ofcommunication and charging capabilities between the mobile computingdevice 120 and the power bank 140.

The mobile computing device 120 includes a memory 152 (i.e., one or morememories 152, e.g., RAM, ROM, etc.). The memory 152 is configured tostore one or more applications 154 (“App(s)”), each of which comprisesone or more sets of non-transitory computer-executable instructions. Inparticular, the one or more applications 154 includes a power bankapplication 156 (“PB App”), which may, for example, facilitate measuringand/or viewing of state of health of the power bank 140. In someembodiments, the one or more applications 154 use an applicationprogramming interface (API) that provides access to electricalcharacteristics of the mobile computing device 120, which are measuredvia internal circuitry of the mobile computing device 120 (e.g.,voltage, current, resistance, etc.).

The mobile computing device 120 further includes a processor 158 (i.e.,one or more processors, e.g., CPU, GPU, etc.), which may execute thenon-transitory computer executable instructions included in the memory152. The mobile computing device 120 additionally includes acommunication module 160 (“Comm Module”), which may establishcommunications and exchange communication signals with the power bank140 via the one or more communicative connections 144. Moreparticularly, the communication module 160 includes one or moretransceivers configured to transmit and/or receive communication signalsvia communication connections with external devices. Communicationsignals to and/or from the communication module 160 may include wirelesssignals (RF signals) or wired communication signals (e.g., via USB dataconnection). The communication module 160 may also include one or moremodems configured to convert between signals that arereceived/transmitted via the one or more transceivers and signals thatare interpreted by the processor 158 and/or the PB app 156. The mobilecomputing device 120 may additionally include an I/O 162 for connectingone or more input devices and/or one or more output devices (e.g., adedicated display screen such as a touchscreen).

It should be appreciated that alternate rechargeable devices may notinclude the I/O 162. For example, in embodiments where the rechargeabledevice 120 includes consumer rechargeable batteries, an I/O of apersonal electronic device interfacing with a remote server may insteadbe configured to display information regarding the rechargeable device.

The mobile computing device 120 includes a charging module 164 (e.g., aUSB charger) chiefly configured to receive electric charge and directthe electric charge to a rechargeable battery 166 of the mobilecomputing device 120 (“mobile computing device battery 166”). Thebattery 166 is the primary power source of the mobile computing device120. Usually, the battery 166 is internal to the mobile device 120(e.g., fixedly or removably placed inside a cavity of the mobilecomputing device 120).

The charging module 164 of the mobile computing device 120 may alsoinclude circuitry to measure and/or process charging performance of thecharging module 164. For example, the charging module may include ananalog to digital converter (ADC) configured to convert analogmeasurements of voltage, current, resistance, and/or other electricalcharacteristics at the mobile computing device 120 to digital values.Digital values can be transmitted via the communication module 160 tothe power bank 140 via the one or more communicative connections 144(e.g., via a wireless RF connection) or to a remote server via analternate communicative connection.

The charging module 164 may include one or more charging ports (e.g.,USB port or Lightning port) and/or additional circuitry for receivingand directing electric charge to the battery 166 when the chargingmodule 164 receives electric charge from an external power supply (i.e.,a supply of electric charge). The external power supply may be the powerbank 140 according to the disclosure and/or another external powersupply (e.g., a wall outlet, a vehicle charging port, etc.).

Operations of the processor 158 may include operations for managing thesupply of electric charge to the battery 166 via the charging module 164(e.g., operating a switch to interrupt and/or resume the supply ofelectric charge from the power bank 140 to the battery 166).

In some embodiments described herein, the charging module 164 includes avoltage regulator (e.g., a DC-to-DC voltage converter). The voltageregulator may be configured, for example, to convert the voltage of acharging port of the mobile computing device 120 to a voltage of thebattery 166. For example, in a mobile computing device 120 that isconfigured to receive power via a 5 volt (5V) USB charging port, thevoltage regulator may include a step-down converter (“buck converter”)configured to reduce the USB voltage to 3.6V or another suitable voltagecorresponding to the battery 166. Similar voltage conversion may beperformed based upon (1) the voltage of components of the chargingmodule 164, which may vary based upon the charging means used (e.g.,Lighting charging, Qi-standard wireless charging means, etc.), and (2)the voltage across two terminals of the mobile computing device battery166. Additional description of components of the charging module 164will be provided with respect to FIG. 2 .

Still referring to FIG. 1A, the power bank 140 includes a rechargeablebattery 180. The power bank battery 180 is the primary power source ofthe power bank 140 itself, and is also the power source by which thepower bank 140 supplies charge to mobile computing devices. The powerbank battery 180 may be, for example, a lithium-ion battery, alithium-polymer battery, and/or another type of secondary battery. Thepower bank battery 180 may comprise one or more electrochemical cells,connected in parallel and/or in series.

The power bank 140 includes at least one charging module 182 (e.g., aUSB charger), which generally is configured to (1) receive and directelectric charge to the power bank battery 180 (e.g., charge receivedfrom an AC wall outlet, vehicle charging port, etc.), and (2) supplyelectric charge via an electrical connection to one or more mobilecomputing devices. In one specific implementation where the power bank140 includes three charging modules 182, one of the charging modules 182may be configured to allow recharging of the battery while the remainingtwo charging modules 182 are configured to simultaneously permitcharging of two mobile computing devices 120. In possible embodiments,the electrical connection may be implemented via wired and/or wirelessmeans (e.g., USB charging, Lightning charging, Qi-standard wirelesscharging means, AirFuel wireless charging means, and/or other suitablemeans).

The charging module(s) 182 may be coupled to a voltage regulator 183(e.g., a DC-to-DC voltage converter). The voltage regulator 183 may beconfigured, for example, to convert a first voltage associated with apower source of the power bank 140 (e.g., a 120V AC wall outlet) to asecond voltage of the power bank battery 180 (e.g., 3V, 3.6V, or 4.2V)while the power bank 140 is being recharged. Additionally oralternatively, the voltage regulator 183 may be configured to convertthe voltage of the power bank battery 180 to still another voltage of acharging connection to the mobile computing device 120 (e.g., thevoltage regulator may include a step-up or “boost” converter configuredto convert the power bank voltage to 5V for a USB charging connection)while the power bank 140 is supplying charge to the mobile computingdevice 120. Voltage conversion within the power bank 140 may vary basedupon (1) the voltage of the power bank battery 180, and (2) the voltageassociated with the charging means by which charge is provided to themobile computing device 120 (e.g., Lighting charging, Qi wirelesscharging, etc.). Additional description of components of the chargingmodule(s) 182 will be provided with respect to FIG. 2 .

The power bank 140 includes a microcontroller 184 (MCU, also referred toherein as a control module) comprising a memory 186 and a processor 188.The memory 186 (i.e., one or more memories) may include ROM, RAM, and/orother suitable types of computer memory. The processor 188 (i.e., one ormore processors) may include a CPU and/or other suitable processingunit(s), which executes non-transitory instructions stored at the memory186. In various embodiments, the MCU 184 performs measurements ofelectrical characteristics via the charging module(s) 182 (e.g.,measurements of voltage of the battery 180, outflowing current from thebattery 180, and/or other measurements described herein) and performscalculations based upon the values obtained via the performedmeasurements. The memory 186 may be configured to store one or morelookup tables for correcting the aforementioned measurements based upona temperature of the environment 100 and/or the battery 180.Furthermore, the MCU 184 may control operations of the charging module182 (e.g., operating a switch therein to interrupt and/or resume asupply of electric charge to the power bank battery 180 from an externalpower source, and/or a supply of charge from the power bank 140 to themobile computing device battery 166).

The power bank 140 additionally includes a communication module 190(“Comm Module”) that includes one or more transceivers configured toexchange wired and/or wireless communication signals with the mobilecomputing device 120 via the one or more communicative connections 144(e.g., RF digital communications using Bluetooth Low Energy, WiFi, LoRaetc.) and/or with a remote server via an additional communicativeconnection. Depending on the particular communication protocolimplemented via the communicative connections, the communication module190 may also include one or more modems configured to convert betweensignals that are received/transmitted via the one or more transceiversand signals that are interpreted by the MCU 184. Non-transitoryinstructions stored at the power bank memory 186 may includeinstructions that, when executed by the processor 188, cause thecommunication module 190 to transmit indications of measured electricalcharacteristics and/or other calculations performed by the MCU 184(e.g., indications of voltage, current, resistance, etc.) to the mobilecomputing device 120 and/or a remote server (not depicted).

The MCU 184 or charging module 182 may particularly include an analog todigital converter (ADC) configured to convert analog measurements ofvoltage and/or other electrical characteristics at the power bank 140 todigital values. Digital values can be transmitted via the communicationmodule 190 to the mobile computing device 120 via the one or morecommunicative connections 144 (e.g., via a wireless RF connection) or toa remote server.

Optionally, the power bank includes an I/O 192 for connecting one ormore input devices and/or one or more output devices. In particular, theI/O 192 may include a power button which controlsinterruption/resumption of a supply of charge from the power bankbattery 180 to a battery of a mobile computing device (e.g., to thebattery 166 of the mobile computing device 120). In some embodiments,the I/O 192 may include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) and/orother graphical output, which may for example be an icon providing anindication of the charge level of the power bank battery 180 and/orwhether charging is actively taking place.

In some additional embodiments, the power bank 140 also includes atemperature sensor 187 configured to sense a temperature of theenvironment 100 and/or the battery 180. For example, the temperaturesensor 187 may be a thermistor. The MCU 184 may be configured to obtainindications of the temperature from the temperature sensor 187. As willbe described below, actual battery capacity is dependent upontemperature. Accordingly, when the MCU 184 determines a measurementassociated with the power bank battery 180 and/or the mobile computingdevice battery 166, the MCU 184 may apply a correction factor based uponthe temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 187.

The environment 100 may include additional computing devices and/orcomponents, in various embodiments. Moreover, where components of adevice described herein are referred to separately, it should beunderstood that components may be combined, in some embodiments.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example computing environment 150 including thepower bank 140, a rechargeable device 120 (such as the mobile computingdevice 120 described with respect to FIG. 1A), a personal electronicdevice 121, and a remote server 130. The power bank 140, therechargeable device 120, the personal electronic device 121, and theremote server are communicatively coupled via one or more networks 124.While FIG. 1B depicts only a single power bank 140, a singlerechargeable device 120, and a single personal electronic device 121,the environment 150 may include any number of power banks 140,rechargeable devices 120, and personal electronic devices 121communicatively coupled with the remote server 130 via the networks 124.

The networks 124 may facilitate the communicative connections 144 ofFIG. 1A and include one or more long range communication networks (e.g.,a Wi-Fi network, an Ethernet network, a cellular communication network,etc.) and short range communication networks. To this end, in someembodiments, the power bank 140 utilizes the communication connections144 between the power bank 140 and the rechargeable device 120 tofacilitate communications between the power bank 140 and the remoteserver 130. In other embodiments, the communication module 190 of thepower bank 140 is configured to include one or more transceivers capableof communicating directly with the remote server 130. In theseembodiments, if the rechargeable device 120 does not includetransceivers capable of communicating with the remote server 130 (e.g.,in some embodiments where the rechargeable device 120 includes consumerrechargeable batteries), the rechargeable device 120 may utilize thecommunication connections 144 to transmit data to the power bank device140, which relays the data to the remote server 130.

The personal electronic device 121 is an electronic device associatedwith a user of the power bank 140. The personal electronic device 121may be a smart television, a smart home hub, a mobile computing device,or other suitable types of personal electronic devices. The personalelectronic device 121 may be configured to receive alerts from theremote server 130 regarding operation of the power bank 140 and/or therechargeable device 120 and to query data stored at the remote server130 regarding the power bank 140 the rechargeable device 120. In someembodiments, the personal electronic device 121 is the rechargeabledevice 120. In these embodiments, the personal electronic device 121both receives charge from the power bank 140 and receives alerts fromthe remote sever 130.

The remote server 130 includes a memory 134 (i.e., one or more memories134, e.g., RAM, ROM, etc.). The memory 134 may be configured to storeone or more lookup tables for correcting the measurements associatedwith power bank 140 and/or the rechargeable device 120 based upon thetemperature associated with the power bank 140 and/or the battery 180.Additionally, the memory 134 is configured to store one or moreapplications 136 (“Apps”) which comprises one or more sets ofnon-transitory computer-executable instructions. In particular, the oneor more applications 136 includes various applications for analyzingdata received from the power bank 140 and/or the rechargeable device120. For example, the one or more applications 136 may include anapplication configured to monitor a state of health of the power bank140, an application configured to determine a number of times a powerbank is capable of recharging one or more rechargeable devices 120, anapplication configured to interrupt the power bank 140 when it operatesinefficiently, an application to generate a web dashboard for monitoringoperation of the power bank 140 and/or the rechargeable device via thepersonal electronic device 121, and/or other applications that areconfigured to operate on data received from the power bank 140 and/orthe rechargeable device 120. In some embodiments, the applications 136are configured to share an API interface with the PB app 156 executingon the rechargeable device 120 to exchange data relating to the powerbank 140 therebetween.

The memory 134 also includes user profile data 138. To this end, theremote server 130 may be configured to maintain user profiles for aplurality of users of respective power banks 140. Accordingly, for eachuser of a respective power bank 140, the user profile data 138 mayinclude an identifier of the particular power bank 140, an identifier ofone or more associated rechargeable devices 120, an identifier of one ormore personal electronic devices 121 at which the user wants to receivealerts, a plurality of operating data associated with the power bank 140and the rechargeable devices 120 (including operating data describedelsewhere herein), user preference data (including user-definedthreshold values), and/or other data associated with the user. Thevarious identifiers may uniquely identify the respective device (e.g., aMAC address, a serial number, a MEID, a UICC, or other uniqueidentifier). In some embodiments, the user preference data is set basedon the user interacting with the PB app 156 of the rechargeable device120 and/or via a web interface accessed via the personal electronicdevice 121.

The remote server 130 further includes a processor 133 (i.e., one ormore processors, e.g., CPU, GPU, etc.), which may execute thenon-transitory computer executable instructions included in the memory134. In some embodiments, the remote server 130 operates in a cloudcomputing configuration. In these embodiments, the one or moreprocessors 133 and the one or more memories 134 may be physicallylocated in different hardware units. Accordingly, FIG. 1B should beunderstood to represent a logical relationship between the variouscomponents of the remote server 130.

The remote server 130 additionally includes a communication module 131(“Comm Module”), which may establish communications and exchangecommunication signals over the one or more networks 124. Moreparticularly, the communication module 131 includes one or moretransceivers configured to transmit and/or receive via communicationconnections with external devices. The communication module 131 may alsoinclude one or more modems configured to convert signals that arereceived/transmitted via the one or more transceivers to signals thatare interpreted by the processors 133. The communication module 131 maybe configured to communicate with additional or alternative device notshown in FIG. 1B. For example, in some embodiments, the applications 136may be configured to generate one or more alerts related to operation ofthe power bank 140. Accordingly, the communication module 131 may beconfigured to transmit messages to a push server that pushes the alertto the rechargeable device 120 and/or the personal electronic device 121via a push messaging protocol.

The remote server 130 may additionally include an I/O 132 for connectingone or more input devices and/or one or more output devices (e.g.,devices connected to one or more physical ports of the remote server 130to enable monitoring and/or configuration of the remote server 130).

FIG. 2 illustrates example conventionally known electrical components ofthe rechargeable device 120 of FIG. 1B (including the mobile device 120of FIG. 1A) and power bank 140 of FIGS. 1A-1B, suitable for use in theportable power bank devices described herein. Although a limited numberof electrical components are described with respect to FIG. 2 , theseare merely provided for general illustration of the power banks 140 andmethods described herein, and thus it should be understood that therechargeable device 120 and/or power bank 140 may include additional,fewer, and/or alternate components to those described herein, in variousembodiments (e.g., other electrical circuitry, and/or any of thecomponents described with respect to FIGS. 1A-1B). Thus, arrangements ofthe electrical components generally described herein may vary from thearrangement shown in FIG. 2 .

At a high level, electrical components depicted in FIG. 2 facilitatesupply of electric charge from the power bank battery 180 to therechargeable device battery 166 via an electrical connection between thepower bank battery 180 and the rechargeable device battery 166. Theelectrical connection between the power bank battery 180 and therechargeable device battery 166 electrically connects the respectivebatteries thereof to facilitate the supply of charge from the power bankbattery 180 to the mobile computing device battery 166. In someembodiments, at least some the electrical components described hereinmay be disposed in one or more integrated circuits in the rechargeabledevice 120 and/or in the power bank 140.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , the electrical connection 210 is awired electrical connection (e.g., a USB-C charging cable, micro-USBcable, Lighting cable, or other physical connecting structure) thatconnects an electrical port 212 of the power bank 140 to an electricalport 214 of the rechargeable device 120. Additionally or alternatively,in some embodiments, the electrical connection 210 may include awireless electrical connection (e.g., Qi-standard or AirFuel wirelesscharging connection). Moreover, in some embodiments, the electricalconnection 210 may be implemented by the same structure that providesthe communicative connection(s) 144 as described with respect to FIG.1A. That is, a single connection between the rechargeable device 120 andthe power bank 140 (e.g., a USB wired data/charging wired connection)may both electrically and communicatively connect the rechargeabledevice 120 and the power bank 140.

The power bank battery 180 supplies electric charge via an outflowingelectric current from the power bank battery 180. A power output of thepower bank battery 180 can be calculated (e.g., by the power bank MCU184) by multiplying a value of the outflowing electric current by avoltage of the power bank battery 180. Voltage of the power bank battery180 (e.g., voltage across two terminals of the power bank battery 180)may be measured, for example, by the MCU 184 via a voltmeter disposed atthe power bank battery 180. Outflowing current may be measured by theMCU 184 via use of a resistor 226 (e.g., a shunt resistor) which iselectrically arranged in series with the power bank battery 180, andwhich has a known resistance. When current passes through the resistor226, the MCU 184 measures a voltage drop across the resistor 226 via avoltmeter 228. The ADC in the power bank MCU (e.g., MCU 184) may convertanalog voltmeter measurements in the power bank 140 to digital voltagemeasurements. The MCU 184 may divide the voltage drop across theresistor 226 by the known resistance of the resistor 228 to determinethe value of the electric current passing through the resistor 226 (andhence, the outflowing current of the power bank battery 180).

In some embodiments, control of the supply of electric charge from thepower bank battery 180 is facilitated via a power bank switch 232. Theswitch 232 in an open state (as shown in FIG. 2 ) prevents the supply ofelectric charge from the power bank battery 180, whereas the switch 232in a closed state allows the supply of electric charge. The switch 232may be controlled, for example, by the MCU 184. Additionally oralternatively, in some embodiments, the switch 232 may be controlledbased upon communications transmitted to the power bank 140 by therechargeable device 120 and/or the remote server 130 of FIG. 1B, whichcommunications may be based upon corresponding user input.

The power bank 140 includes a voltage regulator 183 a (e.g., the voltageregulator 183 as shown in FIG. 1 , for example a DC-to-DC voltageconverter). The voltage regulator 183 a may be configured to convert afirst voltage of the power bank battery 180 (e.g., 3V, 3.6V, or 4.2V) toa second configured voltage of the electrical connection 210 (e.g., 5Vfor USB charging). Accordingly, in some embodiments, the voltageregulator 183 a includes a step-up or “boost” converter configured toincrease the voltage. Additionally or alternatively, in someembodiments, the voltage regulator 183 a includes a step-down or “buck”converter to decrease the voltage (e.g., when the power bank battery 180voltage is greater than the electrical connection 210 voltage).Effectively, voltage regulation by the voltage regulator 183 a may varybased upon (1) the voltage of the power bank battery 180, and (2) thevoltage associated with the electrical connection 210. Regulatedelectric current (e.g., having passed through the voltage regulator 183a) may be supplied to the electrical connection 210 by way of the powerbank electrical port 212. Notably, by performing the measurement ofoutflowing current between the battery 180 and the voltage regulator 183a, the outflowing current measurement reflects outflowing current fromthe battery 180 itself (e.g., outflowing current from a terminal of thebattery 180), thereby avoiding inaccuracies that may be caused by lossesof energy and/or changes in value of the current occurring at thevoltage regulator 183 a.

The power bank 140 may additionally include a second, separateelectrical pathway for facilitating supply of inflowing electric chargeto the power bank battery 180 (e.g., inflowing electric charge from anAC wall outlet, vehicle charging port, and/or other source of charge forthe power bank 140). Elements of this second pathway may generally besimilar to the elements described herein for directing outflowingelectric charge from the power bank battery 180. Accordingly, the secondpathway may include, for example, a voltage regulator 183 b (e.g., toconvert a first voltage of an electrical connection supplying charge tothe power bank 140, to a second voltage of the power bank battery 180).Electrical current, upon passing through the voltage regulator 183 b maypass through a resistor 246 (e.g., a shunt resistor). Electric currentpassing through the resistor 246 may be measured in a manner similar tothat described herein regarding outflowing current through the resistor226 (e.g., by the MCU 184 via a voltmeter 248). Supply of inflowingelectric charge to the battery 180 may be controlled via a switch 252.Notably, by performing the measurement of inflowing current between thebattery 180 and the voltage regulator 183 b, the inflowing currentmeasurement reflects the inflowing current to the battery 180 itself(e.g., current passing into a terminal thereof), thereby accounting forpotential losses of energy and/or changes in value of the currentoccurring at the voltage regulator 183 b. Power input to the power bankbattery 180 can be calculated (e.g., by the power bank MCU 184) bymultiplying a value of the inflowing electric current by a voltage ofthe power bank battery 180 (e.g., voltage across two terminals of thepower bank battery).

Electrical current is received at the rechargeable device 120 from theelectrical connection 210 by way of the rechargeable device port 214.The received electrical current may flow to a voltage regulator 262 ofthe rechargeable device 120. The voltage regulator 262 may be configuredto convert the voltage of the electrical connection 210 (e.g., 5V forUSB charging) to another voltage of the rechargeable device battery 166(e.g., 3V, 3.6V, or 4.2V). Accordingly, in some embodiments, the voltageregulator 262 includes a step-down converter configured to decrease thevoltage. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the voltageregulator 262 includes a step-up converter configured to increase thevoltage.

Electric charge is received at the rechargeable device battery 166 byway of an inflowing electric current. Voltage of the rechargeable devicebattery 166 may be measured, for example, by a voltmeter in the battery166. The value of the inflowing electric current may be measured via aresistor 270 (e.g., a shunt resistor) which is electrically arranged inseries with the rechargeable device battery 166, and which has a knownresistance. When current passes through the resistor 270, therechargeable device 120 measures a voltage drop across the resistor 270via a voltmeter 272. The ADC in the mobile computing device processormay convert analog measurements of voltage in the mobile computingdevice 120 to digital voltage values. The processor of the rechargeabledevice (e.g., processor 158) may divide the voltage drop across theresistor 270 by the known resistance of the resistor 270 to determinethe value of the electric current passing through the resistor 270 andhence, the value of the inflowing current to the mobile computing devicebattery 166.

In some embodiments, control of the supply of electric charge to therechargeable device battery 166 is performed via a rechargeable deviceswitch 276. The switch 276 in an open state (as shown in FIG. 2 )prevents the supply of electric charge to the rechargeable devicebattery 166, whereas the switch 276 in a closed state allows the supplyof electric charge. The switch 276 may be controlled, for example, bythe processor of the rechargeable device 120 (e.g., processor 158).Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the switch 276 maybe controlled based upon communications transmitted to the rechargeabledevice 120 by the power bank 140 and/or the remote server 130.

Measuring State of Health of a Power Bank Battery

Generally, a state of health of the power bank is defined as a valuerepresenting an actual capacity of the power bank battery compared tothe nominal capacity of the power bank battery (e.g., a ratio orpercentage). This value is referred to herein as a “health value” of thepower bank battery. Accordingly, in this detailed description, “state ofhealth” and “health value” are used interchangeably.

For example, in a power bank battery having a present capacity of 8400mAh compared to a nominal capacity of 10000 mAh, the health value of thepower bank may be expressed as 0.84 or 84%, i.e., indicating that thepower bank battery has a present capacity that is 84% of its nominalcapacity. According to techniques described herein, when the power bankdetermines its health value, the power bank transmits an indication ofthe health value to a remote server (e.g., the remote server 130 of FIG.1B) for storage at the respective user profile thereat. When the healthvalue falls at or below a predetermined threshold, the power bank (e.g.,power bank 140 of FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 ) or the remote server may transmitan indication of the health value to at least one of a personalelectronic device (e.g., the personal electronic device 121 of FIG. 1B)and/or rechargeable device of a user. To this end, the user profile 138may store an indication of a particular device at which the user prefersto receive notifications. Accordingly, the remote server 131 may querythe user profile to determine the particular personal electronic deviceand/or rechargeable device to which the notification indicating thehealth value is transmitted. Upon establishing the user profile, theremote server 131 may default to using the first personal electronicdevice registered to the profile as the device to which the indicationis transmitted. The remote server 131 may then provide an interface viawhich the user can set the device(s) that will receive the indications.For some rechargeable devices 120, the remote server 131 transmits theindication to the rechargeable device by first transmitting theindication to the power bank 140 which then relays the indication overthe communicative connections 144 to the rechargeable device 120.

The indication, upon being received by device indicated by the userprofile, causes the device to display an indication of the health value(e.g., a push notification, and/or an image displayed on a screen of anapplication at the device). The display at the device may indicate thestate of health of the power bank, thereby providing the user anopportunity to account for the state of health when charging his or herdevice(s) (e.g., to charge the power bank more often to ensure that thepower bank is not inadvertently and inconveniently depleted based on setprior expectations of the user), or to replace the power bank. As willbe described below, various techniques may be utilized to determine thenominal capacity, actual capacity, and health value of the power bankbattery.

First, determining the state of health of the power bank batteryincludes determining the nominal capacity of the power bank battery.Typically, the power bank is aware of its own nominal capacity (e.g.,the nominal capacity is stored in the non-transitory power bank memory186 at time of manufacture). In some embodiments, the nominal capacityof the power bank battery is a combined capacity based upon a multi-cellconfiguration of two or more cells of the power bank battery (e.g.,electrochemical cells), each having an individual capacity. In any case,the nominal capacity of the power bank battery can be represented as asingle value, i.e., a nominal combined capacity of one or more cells inthe power bank battery (e.g., 5000 mAh, 10000 mAh, 22000 mAh, etc.).

Second, determining the state of health of the power bank batteryincludes determining the actual capacity of the power bank battery(e.g., determining the present actual capacity). Multiple techniques arepossible for determining actual capacity of the power bank battery, aswill be described below. In some embodiments, the power bank isconfigured to transmit the nominal and actual capacities (and/or theparticular measurements upon which the nominal and actual capacities arebased upon) to the remote server which then calculates the state ofhealth of the power bank. In other embodiments, the power bank isconfigured to calculate the state of health of the power bank andtransmit the state of health indication to the remote server.

Determining Actual Capacity of a Power Bank Battery

In one possible embodiment, when the power bank battery's capacity israted in units of electric charge, “coulomb counting” techniques areused in combination with measurements of voltage of the power bankbattery during charging and/or draining of the power bank battery.Generally, coulomb counting comprises measuring the outflowing currentfrom the power bank battery and/or inflowing current to the power bankbattery over a time interval. Outflowing electric current from the powerbank (i.e., carrying electric charge out of the power bank battery,e.g., via circuitry of the power bank as described with respect to FIG.2 ) may be measured, for example, while the power bank is supplyingcharge to one or more mobile computing devices. Inflowing electriccurrent (i.e., carrying electric charge into the power bank battery) maybe measured, for example, while the power bank is receiving charge froman AC wall outlet, vehicle charging port, and/or other source of chargefor the power bank. Measured inflowing or outflowing current can beintegrated over a time interval to determine the total inflowing oroutflowing electric charge over the time interval. In somecircumstances, if the measured current is constant over a time interval(or if varying current is averaged over the time interval), the constantcurrent or average current may be multiplied by duration of the timeinterval to determine the total current (inflowing or outflowing) overthe time interval.

In some embodiments, the power bank MCU measures outflowing and/orinflowing electric current via use of a resistor electrically arrangedin series with the power bank battery (e.g., a shunt resistor 226 formeasuring outflowing current, or another shunt resistor similarlyarranged for measuring inflowing current, as described with respect toFIG. 2 ). The resistor has a known electrical resistance (e.g., 0.01Ohms (Ω)), and the electrical resistance of the resistor is included inmemory of the power bank MCU. The power bank MCU measures voltage dropacross the resistor. For example, for the 0.01Ω shunt resistor, the MCUmay measure a drop of 20 millivolts (mV) across the shunt resistor. TheMCU divides the voltage drop by the known resistance of resistor todetermine the electric current passing through the resistor (and hence,the current flowing to or from the power bank battery). For example, forthe MCU measuring a drop of 20 mV across the 0.01Ω shunt resistor, theMCU determines an electric current of 2 A. The MCU continues to monitorthe electric current as a function of time over a time interval (viacontinued measurements of voltage drop across the shunt resistor). Themonitored electric current is integrated or multiplied over the timeinterval to determine the total amount of inflowing or outflowingelectric charge over the time interval. The MCU may transmit thedetermine amount of inflowing or outflowing electric charge to theremote server for monitoring thereat.

Preferably, the time interval over which total charge is calculatedcorresponds to at least one of (1) a full charging of the power bankbattery (i.e., from ˜0% fuel gauge to ˜100% fuel gauge, by charging froma wall outlet or other source) and/or (2) a full draining of the powerbank battery (i.e., from ˜100% fuel gauge to 0% fuel gauge, uponcharging one or more mobile computing devices). As will be describedbelow, a full charging and/or full draining of the power bank battery isdetected by monitoring of voltage and/or current at the power bankbattery.

Monitoring a full charging of the power bank battery (0% to 100%)typically involves monitoring a “Constant Current/Constant Voltage”(CC/CV) charging of the power bank battery. CC/CV charging of the powerbank battery can be understood from FIG. 3 , which charts inflowingcurrent to the power bank battery as a function of the fuel gauge of thepower bank battery during charging (and hence, as a function of time).

In a first “Constant Current” (CC) charging phase, shown in FIG. 3 ,when a fully depleted power bank is connected an external power supply(not shown), the power bank battery receives an inflowing electriccurrent of a substantially constant magnitude (e.g., 2.5 A), and theinternal voltage of the power bank battery increases from a minimumrated voltage (e.g., 3V at 0% fuel gauge, in the case of manylithium-ion batteries) to a maximum rated voltage (e.g., 4.2V forlithium-ion batteries). The maximum voltage of the power bank batterymay be achieved, for example, when the power bank battery is at 50%battery fuel gauge, 60% fuel gauge, 70%, 80%, or another charge level.In any case, once the power bank battery reaches maximum voltage, thesecond “Constant Voltage” (CV) charging phase, shown in FIG. 4 , begins.In the CV phase, the maximum voltage of the power bank battery ismaintained while the inflowing current decreases from an initial value(e.g., 2.5 A in the moment immediately after crossover to CV chargingfrom CC charging) to near-zero inflowing current as the power bank fuelgauge approaches 100%. When the inflowing current is equal to or below apredetermined threshold that signifies that charging has tapered offsufficiently (e.g., 0.05 A), the power bank MCU and/or the remote serverdetermines that the fuel gauge is ˜100%, and the second and finalcharging phase is complete. Consequently, the MCU and/or the remoteserver causes cutoff of the supply of charge to the power bank (e.g.,via the switch in the power bank or in a charging adaptor in the powerbank's power supply).

An “input charge capacity” of the power bank battery is determined viamonitoring the inflowing current over the first and second phases of aCC/CV full charging of the power bank. Particularly, the inflowingcurrent is integrated over the duration of the full charging of thepower bank from 0% to 100% (e.g., 80 minutes, which may be continuous ornon-continuous). Integration of the inflowing current over time producesthe total electric charge inflowing to the power bank battery over theduration of the charging session. As an example, in a power bank havinga nominal capacity of 10000 mAh, the power bank MCU may determine thatthe power bank battery received only 7400 mAh to fully charge from 0% to100% fuel gauge. Thus, in this example, the MCU determines that theinput capacity of the power bank is 7400 mAh. The MCU may be configuredto transmit the input capacity to the remote server for monitoringthereat.

Conversely, the power bank MCU may determine actual capacity bymonitoring power bank battery voltage and outflowing current during afull draining of the power bank battery (from 100% to 0% fuel gauge),while the power bank supplies electric charge to one or more mobilecomputing devices. Particularly, the power bank MCU may monitor theoutflowing current from the power bank battery by measuring voltage dropacross the shunt resistor in series with the power bank battery. Thevalue of the outflowing current during draining generally may vary basedupon various factors, including for example the fuel gauge of thedevice(s) to which the power bank is supplying charge.

Behavior of voltage of the power bank battery can be understood fromFIG. 4 , which charts voltage of the power bank battery as a function ofthe fuel gauge of the power bank battery as the power bank batterydrains over time (e.g., while charging one or more mobile computingdevices). As the power bank battery drains, the power bank batteryvoltage decreases from its maximum voltage (e.g., 4.2V, as shown in FIG.4 ) toward its minimum voltage (e.g., 3V). The power bank MCU and/or theremote server monitors the current and/or voltage until the power bankvoltage is equal or near equal to the minimum voltage, which indicatesthat the power bank battery fuel gauge is at or very close to 0%.

An “output charge capacity” of the power bank battery is determined byintegrating the outflowing current over a duration over which the powerbank battery supplied charge (e.g., drained from 100% to 0% fuel gauge).As an example, in the power bank having a nominal capacity of 10000 mAh,the power bank MCU and/or remote server may determine that the powerbank battery drained only 7000 mAh to drain from 100% to 0% fuel gauge.Thus, the MCU and/or remote server determines that the “output capacity”of the power bank is 7000 mAh.

Determinations of input charge capacity and output charge capacity arepreferably used when the nominal capacity of the power bank battery isexpressed in units of electric charge (e.g., mAh). That is, actualcapacity is measured in units comparable to those of the nominalcapacity. Thus, in embodiments where the nominal capacity of the powerbank battery is rated in units of energy (e.g., Wh), the actual capacityshould likewise be measured units of energy (rather than in units ofcharge, as is achieved via the coulomb counting techniques as describedabove).

Accordingly, in embodiments where the nominal capacity of the power bankbattery is expressed in units of energy, “energy counting” techniquesare used to measure the actual capacity. The power bank MCU may measureoutflowing current from the power bank and/or inflowing current to thepower bank in combination with voltage of the power bank battery over atime interval. As in coulomb counting as described herein, the timeinterval preferably corresponds to at least one of a full charging ofthe power bank battery or a full draining of the power bank battery(which may be detected in the same manner as described above withrespect to FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The MCU and/or the remote server maymultiply the measured outflowing or inflowing current by correspondingvoltage (that is, voltage of the power bank battery at the same time) todetermine the power input to the power bank battery or power output ofthe power output of the power bank battery at a given time during thetime interval. Alternatively, in some embodiments, all measurements ofoutflowing or inflowing current over the time interval may be multipliedby a same “average voltage” of the power bank battery (e.g., a nominalvoltage of the battery).

The power bank MCU and/or the remote server may integrate the measuredpower input or power output over the time interval to determine thetotal inflowing energy to the power bank battery over the time interval,or the total outflowing energy from the power bank battery over the timeinterval. The MCU may measure an “input energy capacity” of the powerbank battery by monitoring the inflowing energy to the power bankbattery over a full charging of the power bank from substantially 0% tosubstantially 100% fuel gauge. For example, in a power bank having anominal capacity of 50 Wh, the power bank MCU may determine that thepower bank battery only received 40 Wh to charge from 0% to 100%.Additionally or alternatively, the power bank MCU may measure an “outputenergy capacity” of the power bank battery by monitoring the outflowingenergy from the power bank battery over a full draining of the powerbank from 100% to 0% fuel gauge. For example, in the power bank having anominal capacity of 50 Wh, the power bank MCU may determine that thepower bank battery only drained 38 Wh to drain from substantially 100%to substantially 0% fuel gauge.

In any case, the power bank MCU and/or remote server may determine theactual capacity of the power bank battery based upon either of thecalculated input capacity (e.g., input charge or energy capacity) or thecalculated output capacity (e.g., output charge or energy capacity).Alternatively, in some embodiments, the MCU calculates the actualcapacity based upon a “full cycle” of the power bank battery (i.e., fullcharging followed by full draining of the power bank battery, or viceversa). In these embodiments, upon detection of the full charging andfull draining, the MCU may average the calculated input capacity andcalculated output capacity to determine the actual capacity of the powerbank battery. For example, following the 10000 mAh power bank exampleherein, the 7400 mAh input charge capacity and 7000 mAh output chargecapacity are averaged to determine a 7200 mAh actual charge capacity ofthe power bank battery.

In some embodiments, the power bank MCU and/or remote server applies atemperature correction factor to the determined actual capacity basedupon a temperature level sensed by a temperature sensor of the powerbank device. Generally, battery capacity increases as the temperaturerises. That said, after a threshold temperature (˜45° C.), additionalcharge is lost to heat due to a rise in internal resistance associatedwith battery degradation causing the charging capacity to generallydecrease. Accordingly, a memory of the power bank device and/or theremote server may store a lookup table that associates temperaturelevels (or ranges of temperature levels) with a particular temperaturecorrection factor to apply to the above actual capacity determination.The temperature correction factor may be a value by which the actualcapacity value is multiplied (e.g., a value between 0.0 and 2.0) togenerate an adjusted actual capacity at the measured/observedtemperature. In some embodiments, the memory of the power bank and/orthe remote server stores a plurality of lookup tables respectivelycorresponding to different battery types. Accordingly, in theseembodiments, the power bank MCU and/or the remote server may obtain atemperature value from the temperature sensor of the power bank deviceto obtain a temperature correction value from the appropriate lookuptable to apply to the determined actual capacity to generate an adjustedactual capacity.

The power bank MCU and/or remote server calculates the health value ofthe power bank battery based upon the determined actual capacity and thenominal capacity of the power bank battery (e.g., as a ratio orpercentage). For example, in a power bank having an actual capacity of7200 mAh compared to 10000 mAh nominal capacity, the health value of thepower bank is represented as 0.72 or 72%. In embodiments that apply atemperature correction factor to adjust the determined actual capacity,the state of health value may be calculated using the adjusted actualcapacity, not the determined actual capacity.

The health value of the power bank generally decreases over time. Thus,in various embodiments, the power bank may apply the techniquesdescribed herein intermittently or continuously to monitor health of thepower bank battery. For example, the MCU and/or remote server maycontinuously monitor charging and draining of the power bank battery andcalculate an actual capacity any time the power bank battery is fullycharged from 0% to 100% or fully drained from 100% to 0%.

In some embodiments, the MCU and/or remote server may measure the actualcapacity when the power bank battery is partially charged (e.g., from 0%to 48% fuel gauge, from 15% to 67%, from 38% to 100%, etc.) or when thepower bank battery is partially drained (e.g., from 100% to 63% fuelgauge, from 48% to 17%, from 61% to 0%, etc.). In these embodiments, themonitored inflowing or outflowing charge or energy during the partialcharging or partial draining is extrapolated to determine the amount ofinflowing or outflowing charge or energy that would occur from a fullcharging or full draining. For example, if the power bank battery drains3500 mAh to drain from 67% to 17% fuel gauge (i.e., draining 50%), theMCU doubles the measured drain of 3500 mAh to estimate that the powerbank battery would drain 7000 mAh to fully drain, thereby providing anestimation of actual capacity. As another example, if the power bankbattery charges 1600 mAh to charge from 0% to 20% fuel gauge, the MCUextrapolates the measured 1600 mAh charge to estimate that the powerbank battery would charge 8000 mAh to fully charge. Extrapolatedcalculations of actual capacity may be less reliable, and thus, the MCUand/or remote server preferably calculates the actual capacity basedupon full charging from substantially 0% to substantially 100% fuelgauge, and/or full draining from substantially 100% to substantially 0%.

When the determined health value is equal to or below a threshold value(e.g., 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, etc.), the power bank and/or remote serverautomatically transmits an indication of the health value to the deviceindicated by the user profile at the remote server. In some embodiments,the threshold value is a predetermined value stored by memory of thepower bank MCU (e.g., as set at the time of manufacture of the powerbank) and/or remote server (e.g., a default value is set uponregistering with the remote server). Additionally or alternatively, insome embodiments, the threshold value is a value set by a user of apersonal electronic device via a web portal or a dedicated softwareapplication executing at the personal electronic device. In theseembodiments, the personal electronic device transmits an indication ofthe user-set threshold value to the power bank and/or remote server toset the value stored in the power bank memory and/or the user profile atthe remote server.

Still other techniques for determining actual capacity and state ofhealth may be possible, in alternate embodiments. In some embodiments,for example, the power bank uses an impedance check to determineinternal resistance of the power bank battery, which is also indicativeof state of health. Particularly, the power bank applies one or moreshort, constant-current pulses (e.g., 2 A) internally to the power bankbattery. The power bank and measures voltage drop in the battery (e.g.,30 mV, 60 mV, 200 mV, etc.) upon the application of the pulse(s). Thevoltage drop is caused by the internal resistance in the power bankbattery. Because the internal resistance increases over the lifetime ofthe power bank, voltage drop caused by the constant-current pulse(s)increases proportionally. The power bank may measure the resistance orvoltage drop and compare the resistance or voltage drop to a thresholdvalue (e.g., 200 mΩ or 400 mV). As another example, the power bank mayapply a high frequency AC current (e.g., 1000 Hz) to the battery andmeasure the voltage drop or impedance of the battery for comparison tothe threshold value. In these embodiments, the power bank may transmitthe measured resistance voltage drop to the remote server for monitoringthereat. When the determined voltage drop or resistance value equals toor exceeds the threshold value, the remote server transmits anindication thereof to a personal electronic device associated with thepower bank.

It should be appreciated that the internal resistance of the batteryvaries based on temperature. Generally, as temperature increases, theinternal resistance of the battery decreases. As such, the thresholdvoltage drop or resistance/impedance may vary depending upon atemperature value sensed by the power bank temperature sensor.Accordingly, the memory of the power bank and/or the remote server maystore a lookup table that associates temperature values (or ranges oftemperature values) with threshold voltage drop or resistance/impedancevalues. In these embodiments, prior to comparing the measured voltagedrop or resistance/impedance of the power bank battery to the threshold,the power bank MCU or the remote server may obtain a temperature valuefrom the power bank temperature sensor to obtain the appropriatethreshold value.

Example Flow Diagram

FIG. 5 depicts a flow diagram 500 associated with monitoring state ofhealth of a battery of a power bank (e.g., of the power bank 140 asdepicted in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2 ). As described herein, actionsrepresented in the flow diagram 500 may be performed, for example, bythe microcontroller (MCU) of the power bank in coordination with aremote server (e.g., the remote server 131 of FIG. 1B). Actionsrepresented in the flow diagram may include wired and/or wirelesscommunications between the power bank and a rechargeable device externalto the power bank (e.g., a mobile computing device such a smartphone,tablet, etc.) and/or the remote server.

The MCU and/or the remote server determines a nominal capacity of thepower bank battery (502). The nominal capacity may be a nominal chargecapacity or a nominal energy capacity of the power bank battery.Preferably, the MCU determines the nominal capacity by retrieving thevalue indicative of the nominal capacity from memory of the MCU (or,retrieves a value indicative thereof, e.g., configuration information ofone or more cells of the power bank battery). Accordingly, the MCU maytransmit this value to the remote server upon initial registration withthe remote server. Alternatively, the MCU determines the nominalcapacity by receiving an indication of the nominal capacity of the powerbank battery via wired and/or wireless communications (e.g., from adedicated software application executing on a personal electronic deviceto interface with the remote server; the application downloading alook-up table listing the nominal capacity of various power bankmodels). In still other embodiments, the remote server determines thenominal capacity of the power bank battery by receiving, from the MCU anindication of an identifier corresponding to the power bank (e.g., amodel number). The remote server may then query a database using thereceived identifier to obtain an indication of the nominal capacity fromthe database.

Additionally, the MCU and/or remote server determines a present oractual capacity of the power bank battery (504). The actual capacity maybe an actual charge capacity or an actual energy capacity (in accordancewith the unit of measurement of the nominal capacity). Particularly, theMCU may determine the actual capacity by applying the coulomb countingtechniques (or energy counting techniques, in the case of a power bankbattery having a capacity measured in units of energy) as described inthe foregoing (e.g., based upon input capacity and/or output capacity).Alternatively, in some embodiments, the MCU determines the actualcapacity of the power bank battery via one or more impedance checks asdescribed herein. Regardless of the technique, the MCU may be configuredto transmit the determined present capacity to the remote server. Inresponse, the remote server update the user profile to associate thepresent capacity with the power bank. It should be appreciated that insome embodiments, prior to updating the user profile with the presentcapacity, the MCU and/or the remote server may apply a temperaturecorrection factor to the present capacity to get generate an adjustedpresent capacity. In these embodiments, the remote server may update theuser profile to associate the adjusted present capacity with the powerbank.

The MCU and/or remote server compares the actual capacity of the powerbank battery to the nominal capacity of the power bank battery todetermine a health value of the power bank battery based upon thenominal capacity and the actual capacity (506). Particularly, in someembodiments, the health value corresponds to the actual capacity dividedby the nominal capacity (e.g., represented as a ratio or percentage).

The MCU and/or remote server determines whether the health value of thepower bank is at or below a predetermined threshold value (508). In someembodiments, the predetermined threshold value is stored as part of theuser profile maintained at the remote server. In some embodiments, theremote server receives an indication of a user-configured thresholdvalue. The user-configured threshold value may be set by a user of apersonal electronic device, for example via a software applicationassociated with the power bank battery. In these embodiments, the remoteserver receives the user-configured threshold value from the personalelectronic device via wired and/or wireless communications.

If the determined health value is at or below the threshold value, theMCU and/or the remote server transmits an indication of the health valueto a personal electronic device of a user of the power bank (510). Insome embodiments, upon determining the health value is below thethreshold value, the MCU transmits the indication to the remote server.In response, the remote server may query the user profile to identifyone or more personal electronic devices and/or rechargeable devices atwhich the user profile indicates the indication should be received. Theremote server transmits the indication via wired and/or wirelesscommunications via the identified personal electronic devices and/orrechargeable devices. The transmitted indication of the health valuecauses the personal electronic devices and/or rechargeable devices todisplay the indication of the state of health of the power bank battery(e.g., a push notification, and/or an image displayed on a screen of anapplication conveying the state of health information of the powerbank).

In some embodiments, the indication of the power of the power bankincludes the exact health value. Additionally or alternatively, theindication of the power bank health may simply indicate whether or notthe user should replace the power bank (e.g., based upon whether thehealth value is above, equal to, or below the threshold value).

If the determined health value is above the threshold value, thetransmission of the indication of the health value may not occur.Alternatively, in some embodiments, the remote server transmits thehealth value any time the health value is determined, thereby allowingthe personal electronic devices and/or rechargeable devices user tomonitor the status of their power bank. In some additional embodiments,the health value is transmitted in response to a user accessing a userinterface (e.g., via a web portal or via a dedicated application)configured to display information associated with the power bank. Moreparticularly, the remote server may receive a request to view dataassociated with the power bank device from a personal electronic device,query a user profile to obtain the requested data, and transmit theobtain data to the personal electronic device. In any case, the powerbank MCU and/or the remote server continues to monitor the capacity ofthe power bank battery (512). For example, the MCU and/or remote servermay continuously monitor inflowing and/or outflowing current at thepower bank, and may determine present capacity each time the MCU and/orremote server determines that a full charging or full draining of thepower bank battery has occurred. Thus, the action(s) 504-508 arerepeated, allowing for detection of whether the power bank batteryhealth value has since fallen to the threshold value or below thethreshold value.

Order of actions of the flow diagram 500 may vary. For example, the MCUand/or remote server may determine the actual capacity of the power bankbattery before obtaining the nominal capacity of the power bank battery.

Example Graphical User Interface

FIG. 6 illustrates an example notification that may be displayed at apersonal electronic device 610 based upon state of health of a powerbank associated with a user profile that includes the personalelectronic device (e.g., owned by a same user). More particularly, FIG.6 illustrates a screen 612 of the personal electronic device 610, thescreen 612 displaying a graphical user interface 620 indicating state ofhealth of the power bank. The personal electronic device 610 may, forexample, be any personal electronic device 121 described with respect toFIG. 1B (including the mobile computing device 120 of FIG. 1A or 2 ). Insome embodiments, the graphical user interface 620 of FIG. 6 isdisplayed via a dedicated power bank application executing at thepersonal electronic device 610 (e.g., power bank application 156 of FIG.1 ).

The graphical user interface 620 displays an indication of the state ofhealth (referred to as “life percentage” in FIG. 6 ) of the power bank.Particularly, the graphical user interface 620 indicates that thepresent capacity the power bank is less than 70% of the nominal capacityof the power bank, and advises the user of the personal electronicdevice 610 that ability of the power bank to charge devices may bereduced.

Different health value thresholds may be envisioned, in variousembodiments. Furthermore, additional or alternative graphical userinterfaces are possible, in various embodiments. For example, thenotifications of FIG. 6 may be substituted or supplemented with otherscreens of a power bank application executing at the personal electronicdevice 610 (e.g., full-screen displays) Additional or alternative userinterfaces may provide similar information to that shown in FIG. 6and/or may provide other charging-related information described herein.Furthermore, user interface techniques may be implemented that use audioinput/output via a microphone and/or speaker of the personal electronicdevice 610, in various embodiments, to communicate audio pushnotifications.

Example Flow Diagrams

FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram corresponding to an example method 700associated with determining state of health of a battery of a power bank(e.g., of the power bank 140 as depicted in FIG. 1 ). At least someactions of the method 700 may correspond to actions in the flow diagram500 of FIG. 5 .

The method 700 includes determining a nominal capacity (e.g., nominalcharge capacity or energy capacity) of the power bank battery (702).Particularly, a microcontroller (MCU) of the power bank determines thenominal capacity by retrieving the nominal capacity from memory at thepower bank as explained herein with reference to FIG. 5 . The method 700further includes determining an actual capacity of the power bank (704,e.g., via coulomb counting, energy counting, or impedance check asdescribed herein). Additionally, the method 700 includes comparing theactual capacity of the power bank to the nominal capacity of the powerbank to determine a health value of the power bank (706). The method 700includes transmitting an indication of the health value to a remoteserver when the health value is at or below a threshold value (708).

The method 700 may include additional, fewer, or alternate actions, invarious embodiments.

FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram corresponding to an example method 800associated with determining state of health of a battery of a power bank(e.g., of the power bank 140 as depicted in FIG. 1 ). At least someactions of the method 800 may correspond to actions in the flow diagram500 of FIG. 5 .

The method 800 includes obtaining a nominal capacity (e.g., nominalcharge capacity or energy capacity) of the power bank battery (802).Particularly, a remote server obtains the nominal capacity by receivingan indication of a power bank identifier or a nominal capacity retrievedfrom a memory at the power bank as explained herein with reference toFIG. 5 . The method 800 further includes receiving a present capacitymeasurement of the power bank from the power bank device (804).Additionally, the method 800 includes comparing the present capacity ofthe power bank to the nominal capacity of the power bank to determine ahealth value of the power bank (806). The method 800 includestransmitting an indication of the health value to a personal electronicdevice when the health value is at or below a threshold value (808).

The method 800 may include additional, fewer, or alternate actions, invarious embodiments.

Additional Considerations

All of the foregoing computer systems may include additional, less, oralternate functionality, including that discussed herein. All of thecomputer-implemented methods may include additional, less, or alternateactions, including those discussed herein, and may be implemented viaone or more local or remote processors and/or transceivers, and/or viacomputer-executable instructions stored on computer-readable media ormedium.

The processors, transceivers, mobile devices, and/or other computingdevices discussed herein may communicate with each via wirelesscommunication networks or electronic communication networks. Forinstance, the communication between computing devices may be wirelesscommunication or data transmission over one or more radio links, orwireless or digital communication channels.

The following additional considerations apply to the foregoingdiscussion. Throughout this specification, plural instances mayimplement components, operations, or structures described as a singleinstance. Although individual operations of one or more methods areillustrated and described as separate operations, one or more of theindividual operations may be performed concurrently, and nothingrequires that the operations be performed in the order illustrated.Structures and functionality presented as separate components in exampleconfigurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component.Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single componentmay be implemented as separate components. These and other variations,modifications, additions, and improvements fall within the scope of thesubject matter herein.

Additionally, certain embodiments are described herein as includinglogic or a number of routines, subroutines, applications, orinstructions. These may constitute either software (e.g., code embodiedon a machine-readable medium or in a transmission signal) or hardware.In hardware, the routines, etc., are tangible units capable ofperforming certain operations and may be configured or arranged in acertain manner. In example embodiments, one or more computer systems(e.g., a standalone, client or server computer system) or one or morehardware modules of a computer system (e.g., a processor or a group ofprocessors) may be configured by software (e.g., an application orapplication portion) as a hardware module that operates to performcertain operations as described herein.

In various embodiments, a hardware module may be implementedmechanically or electronically. For example, a hardware module maycomprise dedicated circuitry or logic that is permanently configured(e.g., as a special-purpose processor, such as a field programmable gatearray (FPGA) or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) toperform certain operations. A hardware module may also compriseprogrammable logic or circuitry (e.g., as encompassed within ageneral-purpose processor or other programmable processor) that istemporarily configured by software to perform certain operations. Itwill be appreciated that the decision to implement a hardware modulemechanically, in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or intemporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may bedriven by cost and time considerations.

Accordingly, the term “hardware module” should be understood toencompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that is physicallyconstructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarilyconfigured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manner or toperform certain operations described herein. Considering embodiments inwhich hardware modules are temporarily configured (e.g., programmed),each of the hardware modules need not be configured or instantiated atany one instance in time. For example, where the hardware modulescomprise a general-purpose processor configured using software, thegeneral-purpose processor may be configured as respective differenthardware modules at different times. Software may accordingly configurea processor, for example, to constitute a particular hardware module atone instance of time and to constitute a different hardware module at adifferent instance of time.

Hardware modules may provide information to, and receive informationfrom, other hardware modules. Accordingly, the described hardwaremodules may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Where multipleof such hardware modules exist contemporaneously, communications may beachieved through signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuitsand buses) that connect the hardware modules. In embodiments in whichmultiple hardware modules are configured or instantiated at differenttimes, communications between such hardware modules may be achieved, forexample, through the storage and retrieval of information in memorystructures to which the multiple hardware modules have access. Forexample, one hardware module may perform an operation and store theoutput of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware module may then, at a latertime, access the memory device to retrieve and process the storedoutput. Hardware modules may also initiate communications with input oroutput devices, and may operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation).

The various operations of example methods described herein may beperformed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implemented modulesthat operate to perform one or more operations or functions. The modulesreferred to herein may, in some example embodiments, compriseprocessor-implemented modules.

Similarly, the methods or routines described herein may be at leastpartially processor-implemented. For example, at least some of theoperations of a method may be performed by one or more processors orprocessor-implemented hardware modules. The performance of certain ofthe operations may be distributed among the one or more processors, notonly residing within a single machine, but deployed across a number ofmachines. In some example embodiments, the processor or processors maybe located in a single location (e.g., within a home environment, anoffice environment or as a server farm), while in other embodiments theprocessors may be distributed across a number of locations.

The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed amongthe one or more processors, not only residing within a single machine,but deployed across a number of machines. In some example embodiments,the one or more processors or processor-implemented modules may belocated in a single geographic location (e.g., within a homeenvironment, an office environment, or a server farm). In other exampleembodiments, the one or more processors or processor-implemented modulesmay be distributed across a number of geographic locations.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, discussions herein using wordssuch as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,”“presenting,” “displaying,” or the like may refer to actions orprocesses of a machine (e.g., a computer) that manipulates or transformsdata represented as physical (e.g., electronic, magnetic, or optical)quantities within one or more memories (e.g., volatile memory,non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof), registers, or othermachine components that receive, store, transmit, or displayinformation.

As used herein any reference to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment.

Some embodiments may be described using the expression “coupled” and“connected” along with their derivatives. For example, some embodimentsmay be described using the term “coupled” to indicate that two or moreelements are in direct physical or electrical contact. The term“coupled,” however, may also mean that two or more elements are not indirect contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interactwith each other. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,”“including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is notnecessarily limited to only those elements but may include otherelements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary,“or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example,a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true(or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or notpresent) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (orpresent).

In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elementsand components of the embodiments herein. This is done merely forconvenience and to give a general sense of the description. Thisdescription, and the claims that follow, should be read to include oneor at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it isobvious that it is meant otherwise.

The patent claims at the end of this patent application are not intendedto be construed under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless traditionalmeans-plus-function language is expressly recited, such as “means for”or “step for” language being explicitly recited in the claim(s).

The systems and methods described herein are directed to improvements tocomputer functionality, and improve the functioning of conventionalcomputers.

This detailed description is to be construed as exemplary only and doesnot describe every possible embodiment, as describing every possibleembodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. One may be implementnumerous alternate embodiments, using either current technology ortechnology developed after the filing date of this application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: one or more transceiversconfigured to exchange communication signals with a power bank deviceand one or more personal electronic devices, wherein the power bankdevice includes a battery for supplying electric charge to a battery ofa rechargeable device external to the power bank device; one or moreprocessors; and a non-transitory memory storing computer executableinstructions that, when executed via the one or more processors, causethe system to: obtain the nominal capacity of the power bank battery,receive from the power bank device, via the one or more transceivers, apresent capacity measurement of the power bank battery, compare thepresent capacity of the power bank battery to the nominal capacity ofthe power bank battery to determine a health value of the power bankbattery, and transmit to the one or more personal electronic devices,via the one or more transceivers, an indication of the health value ofthe power bank battery when the health value is less than or equal to athreshold value.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein to obtain the nominalcapacity of the power bank battery, the instructions, when executed,cause the system to: receive from the power bank device, via the one ormore transceivers, an indication of a power bank identifier; and query,using the power bank identifier, a database to obtain the nominalcapacity of the power bank battery.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein toobtain the nominal capacity of the power bank battery, the instructions,when executed, cause the system to: receive from the power bank device,via the one or more transceivers, the nominal capacity of the power bankbattery.
 4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a user profiledatabase configured to store a user profile associated with the powerbank device.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted, cause the system to: store the present capacity measurement inthe user profile.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein the instructions,when executed, cause the system to: receive from a personal electronicdevice, via the one or more transceivers, a request to view dataassociated with the power bank device; query the user profile to obtainthe stored present capacity measurement; and transmit to the personalelectronic device, via the one or more transceivers, the presentcapacity measurement.
 7. The system of claim 4, wherein: the userprofile includes an indication of a personal electronic device selectionat which a user indicated alerts associated with the power bank deviceshould be received; and to transmit the indication of the health value,the instructions, when executed, cause the system to: query the userprofile to determine the personal electronic device selection, andtransmit to a personal electronic device that corresponds to thepersonal electronic device selection, via the one or more transceivers,the indication of the health value.
 8. The system of claim 1, whereinthe instructions, when executed, cause the system to: receive from apersonal electronic device, via the one or more transceivers, anindication defining the threshold value.
 9. The system of claim 1wherein: the memory is configured to store one or more lookup tablesassociating temperature values with respective temperature correctionfactors, and to compare the present capacity of the power bank batteryto the nominal capacity of the power bank battery, the instructions,when executed, cause the system to: receive, from the power bank device,an indication of a temperature value, based on the temperature value,obtain, from the one or more lookup tables, the respective temperaturecorrection factor, and generate an adjusted present capacity by applyingthe temperature correction factor to the present capacity of the powerbank battery, and compare the adjusted present capacity to the nominalcapacity of the power bank battery.
 10. A method implemented at a systemcomprising (i) one or more transceivers configured to exchangecommunication signals with a power bank device and one or more personalelectronic devices, wherein the power bank device includes a battery forsupplying electric charge to a battery of a rechargeable device externalto the power bank device; (ii) one or more processors; and (iii) anon-transitory memory storing computer executable instructions that,when executed via the one or more processors, perform the method,wherein the method comprises: obtaining, via the one or more processors,the nominal capacity of the power bank battery; receiving from the powerbank device, via the one or more transceivers, a present capacitymeasurement of the power bank battery; comparing, via the one or moreprocessors, the present capacity of the power bank battery to thenominal capacity of the power bank battery to determine a health valueof the power bank battery; and transmitting to the one or more personalelectronic devices, via the one or more transceivers, an indication ofthe health value of the power bank battery when the health value is lessthan or equal to a threshold value.